terima kasih buat kalian semua..

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Draw up guidelines on wages for local guards

There have been doubts in the minds of many Malaysians who are uncertain about our economy and the direction it is heading. The article comes at the most opportune time and helps to enlighten these people including me about the Government’s proactive measures in reviving the economy.

However, I believe that due to the absence of a minimum wage, the lower rank employees in the private sector are being exploited.

I am in the security services industry, and I speak for this industry even though similar situations exist in other industries as well.

There are more than 300,000 security guards now and the number is growing with the number of licences being issued to individuals to bring in foreign guards. These foreign guards from Nepal, Myanmar, India and Pakistan to name a few, pose a “threat” to local guards.

They draw higher wages than the locals. The Nepalese for example draw an average of RM1,200 for a 26-day, 12-hour shift job as compared to RM1,000 for a 30-day 12-hour shift job by the locals. With no governing body for the guards, they are being taken for a ride by unscrupulous employers.

For the future of the many hopeful retired police and armed forces personnel who constitute a major portion of the security force, it is hoped that the Government, whilst formulating new policies, will take this into consideration.

Guidelines on wages and working hours for guards have to be introduced and seen to be enforced.